iris123 Posted April 9, 2011 Report Share Posted April 9, 2011 Agreed. £10 with an £8 OAP would be about right. That way more people would be in and the more takings he would have over the bar etc. £12 plus £2 programme is the same cost for Scunthorpe v Rye House PL match (£13 + £1) which prove it's overpriced. It has nought to do with getting speedway back into London just another inflated price for a speedway meeting. They will never learn in pretty much the same way as the GP's have become a rip off and the crowds are falling year on year Have to say i paid €6 for 38 heats of speedway in Germany last weekend with a couple of heat sheets included in the price.That included 14 heats with the likes of a former German Champ and former U21 champ,plus lots of other classes down to 50cc.12 quid seems a bit steep.Only time will tell if people are willing to pay.A one-off meeting against some Americans is maybe do-able Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tocha Posted April 9, 2011 Report Share Posted April 9, 2011 Have to say i paid €6 for 38 heats of speedway in Germany last weekend with a couple of heat sheets included in the price.That included 14 heats with the likes of a former German Champ and former U21 champ,plus lots of other classes down to 50cc.12 quid seems a bit steep.Only time will tell if people are willing to pay.A one-off meeting against some Americans is maybe do-able Looks very good value to me. Not only did we pay £12 tonight but on arrival found the 'free' scoresheet had developed into a £2 programme. To top it all this was, probably, the most dreadful meeting I have ever witnessed. In fact the couple I was with left before heat 11 as they were cold and bored. The US team were, in the main, out of their depth with only Shaun McConnell and Eddie Castro looking anywhere near competitve. Then there were some unusual refereeing decisions. In two of the latter heats he brought all four back when riders from the US team fell on their own - one on the third turn of heat one. So why didn't he bring all four back when Eddie Castro touched the tapes when on a tactical ride unless he later was trying to make up for this earlier lack of judgment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bryn Posted April 9, 2011 Report Share Posted April 9, 2011 (edited) No one's mentioned "the legend" that is Barry Thomas had a skid have they? OR the fact that the other Hackney legend that is 'Hawkeye' won the raffle! Talk about money going to money! Edited April 9, 2011 by Bryn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhamboy66 Posted April 10, 2011 Report Share Posted April 10, 2011 Looks very good value to me. Not only did we pay £12 tonight but on arrival found the 'free' scoresheet had developed into a £2 programme. To top it all this was, probably, the most dreadful meeting I have ever witnessed. In fact the couple I was with left before heat 11 as they were cold and bored. The US team were, in the main, out of their depth with only Shaun McConnell and Eddie Castro looking anywhere near competitve. Then there were some unusual refereeing decisions. In two of the latter heats he brought all four back when riders from the US team fell on their own - one on the third turn of heat one. So why didn't he bring all four back when Eddie Castro touched the tapes when on a tactical ride unless he later was trying to make up for this earlier lack of judgment. Spot on Only saving grace to this meeting was the efforts of Shawn McConnell and Eddie Castro. Both are to be thanked for their efforts at providing entertainment. Yes only a challenge match but the referee did his level best to make it a joke. thought at one stage i was at the Brighton bonanza with the all four back due to "crowd" opinion so why make Eddie Castro go off 15 when who cares that he touched the tapes. I suppose the playing of the magnificent seven and a couple of laps by Barry Thomas appeased the old Hackney supporters but the meeting in general made it unlikely that i will bother with further Hackney meetings if Eastbourne ar running at home. Fourteen quid lighter and a total mismatch in the name of Hackney Speedway...well for me this event did nothing for the image of Rye House Speedway and lets face it Rye House Speedway has suffered enough so far this season Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gaptooth Posted April 10, 2011 Report Share Posted April 10, 2011 meanwhile, back in the land of the non moaner, well done to the Hawks last night. Good confidence booster for the lads. Whatever Len does or doesn`t do shouldn`t detract from the fact that our boys got on with the job and stayed focused. Looking forward to KL on weds Up the `Awks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JC! Posted April 10, 2011 Report Share Posted April 10, 2011 Surprised to see the Hawks yesterday, went over on the off chance didnt know who was on, must have been fate! Took 3 Kids who all got in free, so £24 for the lot of us not bad at all. Positives Team seems to have good youngsters. Crowd seemed not too bad. Areas to Improve Terrible opposition, they need a guest american from a higher league to be remotely competitive if they are to tour again, albeit they gave their best. Dust clouds and no water going down. Mostly - no Hawks merchandise,bar a badge. Even the programme was branded Rye House (would have liked Len to go to the expence of a staple to hold it together for 2 quid? ). None of this differentiated Hackney as a different team than the 3rd division team from last year. On the whole much more likely to go and see the Rockets to be honest, I think there was nothing done to create an identity for the Hawks, making it appear to be a gimmick to pull in a few more punters . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parsloes 1928 nearly Posted April 10, 2011 Report Share Posted April 10, 2011 Mostly - no Hawks merchandise,bar a badge. Even the programme was branded Rye House (would have liked Len to go to the expence of a staple to hold it together for 2 quid? ). None of this differentiated Hackney as a different team than the 3rd division team from last year. I'd seen the Yanks at Brum earlier in the week so knew this would be a mis-match, hence I wasn't there John, though a shame as it would've been good to see you and the family... Asked a friend to buy me a Hawks prog board if there was one, as am heading off to see the first NL away match at King's Lynn on Weds. There of course as you say wasn't one... Was involved with Bournemouth the two years Poole experimented with that branded NL team and we had a vast array of merchandising for the Buccs... Which I think you really should do to stand a chance of making the separate identity work... And as for the prog for a stand-alone 'Hackney' fixture simply being a RH one..? Well I agree that's very poor indeed... Personally I think the Hackney thing is going to work a whole lot better at Lakeside and really looking forward to that - and the away matches too.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marko Posted April 10, 2011 Report Share Posted April 10, 2011 Was not at Rye House last night but do intend to follow Hackney when they are racing from Lakeside, I think the team has got a ton of potential in it and hope it does get well supported, hopefully too some more merchandise will be made available because although ive always been 100% Arena Essex/Lakeside im quite happy to through my weight behind this venture and support the Hawks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Ore Posted April 10, 2011 Report Share Posted April 10, 2011 Positives Team seems to have good youngsters. Crowd seemed not too bad. I suppose it is a half full/ half empty glass scenario. As programmes were sold out I amused myself between heats counting the crowd and reached a magnificent 412. I think this is appalling although it will no doubt refer to a "bumper" attendance in the press releases. I would have attended whether the home team were called the Raiders, Roosters, Red Devils, Cobras or Dons as my main aim was to see the USA riders. As a branding exercise therefeore it was a total failure. If there was anyone there purely attracted by the Hackney; name well I don't believe you. Having paid 14 pounds for a third tier match at Sheffield last year (Top Gun) I find it awfully sad that admission costs are seen as the b all and end all of the debate by many forum members. My 14 big ones at Sheffield produced the best racing I saw last year outside the British GP, a great atmosphere, slick presentation (in spite of a couple of horror crashes delaying matters) and great food including a much reduced priced carvery. Oh yes and at least 50% more people there in spite of no branding elements or "home" riders in the field. Value For Money 100%. Last night I saw one of the worst meetings ever with no atmosphere, presentation or racing, on a very poor track. Having seen Ed Castro fly around Californian tracks; the late Glen Helen circuit showing his racing skills at their best, it says a lot that he looked totally out of it. VFM 0% The usual Rye House motto that if the racing is rubbish at least the fish and chips are good could not be tested either as they had run out of fish well before the start. Luckily Seb Coe was busy polishing his ego last night so resisted my invitation to look at what is proposed as a lasting legacy after the end of the Hackney Olympics. He would not have been impressed and he has to watch Fernando Torres play every week for his fun. For once the tightwads had it right by not turning up and with the running out of programmes and food before the start clearly the promotion had counted on an even smaller attendance than actually turned up. This hardly shows confidence in the much lauded rebranding exercise of calling the Cobras Hackney. My own positive is that with the lack of programme and food I was able to put a few more dollars in the collection for the American riders expenses so at least they benefitted. Good luck to them and the home team riders who could only perform with the tools available. In spite of the price of admission I would return for future matches but on the basis of what I witnessed last night won't be doing so for a very long time. To top it all there were three young boys shouting out, "Willies" in front of shocked fans on the 4th bend. Well done Wayne Rooney: your foul mouthed outburst last weekend has polluted our family sport with this industrial language from our impresionable youth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KenB1 Posted April 10, 2011 Report Share Posted April 10, 2011 (edited) So who produces this stuff, the chap at Rye or the chap at lakeside? We are doing the DVD's at Rye and Steve at Lakeside (last nights is ready now) but I think this would have carried more weight if it had been all at one track or the other, fans know then when to go and that its on a certain day. Maybe it should have been hackney at Rye and West Ham at Lakeside, then they can fight over a Olympic stadium and boot out both Spurs and Leyton Orient! They are a great bunch of kids and (plus me old mate Tragic of course, but compared to the yanks, he's still a kid), sadly this match was no more than a training exercise and really was pretty poor and no better than when Wimbledon tried their comeback v Belle Vue, but this I feel will last longer, would have been nice if Finn Jensen, Zenon Plech and Banger had been their too with Thomo. But never the less, it was great to see those Hawks race jackets back on track. Edited April 10, 2011 by KenB1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shadders Posted April 10, 2011 Report Share Posted April 10, 2011 (edited) Hard to judge the Hawks on this showing. Only Eddie Castro and Shawn McConnell put up any meaningful resistance, and even they tired towards the end, not surprising given their respective ages!! Good to see Barry Thomas going round for a couple of laps looking faster than he did when he rode for the Rockets back in the early 90's!! Pleased to meet up with US team manager Steve Evans. Great bunch of guys, happy to stand and chat with the supporters. Hope you all have a successful and enjoyable tour. Took a few snaps ... Hawks vs USA Touring Side Bit of trivia ... The last time Doug Nicol rode at Rye House was in August 1992 for the Middlesbrough Bears in a 52-35 defeat, scoring 6+1 from 5, unless anyone knows different? Edited April 10, 2011 by Shadders Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iris123 Posted April 10, 2011 Report Share Posted April 10, 2011 Bit of trivia ... The last time Doug Nicol, rode at Rye House was in August 1992 for the Middlesbrough Bears in a 52-35 defeat, scoring 6+1 from 5, unless anyone knows different? Wow!!! Parsloes might question your knowledge on Arsenal,but when it comes to obscure Americans at Rye yous da man Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shadders Posted April 10, 2011 Report Share Posted April 10, 2011 Wow!!! Parsloes might question your knowledge on Arsenal,but when it comes to obscure Americans at Rye yous da man Even Doug didn't remember that!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iris123 Posted April 10, 2011 Report Share Posted April 10, 2011 Even Doug didn't remember that!!! The reputation some of the Americans have i guess they have forgotten whole decades,let alone 1 meeting Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waco Posted April 10, 2011 Report Share Posted April 10, 2011 A woefully weak usa team bearing no comparison to previous teams that have toured in the past and i doubt many promoters will be inviting them back next season unless Steve Evans can garrantee a team that is competative at this level..A field day for the young Hawks,winning races is always good for confidence even when you beat nothing..Lets hope when the real racng starts on wednesday at Kings Lynn,the Hawks will really fly.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vicar Posted April 10, 2011 Report Share Posted April 10, 2011 Am I right that yesterday's match was held in Rye House? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waco Posted April 10, 2011 Report Share Posted April 10, 2011 Am I right that yesterday's match was held in Rye House? you are correct.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JC! Posted April 10, 2011 Report Share Posted April 10, 2011 I'd seen the Yanks at Brum earlier in the week so knew this would be a mis-match, hence I wasn't there John, though a shame as it would've been good to see you and the family... Asked a friend to buy me a Hawks prog board if there was one, as am heading off to see the first NL away match at King's Lynn on Weds. There of course as you say wasn't one... Was involved with Bournemouth the two years Poole experimented with that branded NL team and we had a vast array of merchandising for the Buccs... Which I think you really should do to stand a chance of making the separate identity work... And as for the prog for a stand-alone 'Hackney' fixture simply being a RH one..? Well I agree that's very poor indeed... Personally I think the Hackney thing is going to work a whole lot better at Lakeside and really looking forward to that - and the away matches too.. Hi Derek Totally agree with what you say - seemed a mystery to me not to have any souvenirs for the Hawks, would think that there would be demand for programme boards, or maybe scarves, hats etc? Totally looked like a shabby marketing ploy to bring a few old fans in - hopefully Jon Cook will do a bit better. Didn't see any old faces there yesterday (other than in the mirror!!), can see the crowds falling to be honest. I think there were around 500-550 there, but no concessions seems like a strange move too. Cheers John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockets Posted April 11, 2011 Report Share Posted April 11, 2011 A strange night. Fantastic to see Thommo. All the boys looked sharp. Freemantle looks a good prospect. Shane looked like he could hit the ground running. Hopwwood continues to impress. Owen fast and smooth when in front but seems to struggle for ideas when at the back.Ben clearly benefitting from his run with the Rockets. Great to see the colours back. Also good to see a healthy crowd despite the predictions of doom. I think the Hawks could be in for a great season if they can stay injury free. Now the bad news - old boys aside the US were completely out of their depth and I think Thommo might have beaten half of them. They will clearly need to strengthen for the rest of the tour. As a consequence not much racing. I had been hoping to see some Hawks merchandise too. Maybe it will appear as the season progresses. And no fish ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveEvans Posted April 11, 2011 Report Share Posted April 11, 2011 Austin Novratil joins the yanks for the rest of the tour so we should be more in it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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